July 23, 24 & 25, 2021
Friday July 23, 2021
NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac 0-4 GNK Dinamo Zagreb ( att : 328 )
Majer ( 19 & 53 ), Sutalo ( 36 ), Gavronovic ( 48 ),
Saturday July 24, 2021
NK Slaven Belupo 1-2 NK Lokomotiva Zagreb ( att : 513 )
Krstanovic ( 63 pen ); Cokaj ( 22 ), Pivaric ( 80 )
HNK Gorica 3-1 HNK Sibenik ( att : 400 )
Babec ( 26 ), Dieye ( 67 ), Bili ( 69 og ); Bilic ( 89 )
Sunday July 25, 2021
HNK Rijeka 2-0 NK Istra 1961 ( att : 2,015 )
Drmic ( 78 & 82 )
HNK Hajduk Split 1-2 NSK Osijek ( att : 9,486 )
Livaja ( 63 ); Jurcevic ( 66 ), Pilj ( 87 )
The big game of the weekend in Croatia saw two of the sides hoping to put up the main challenge to Dinamo Zagreb battle it out in front of a decent crowd in excess of the total of all 9 other matches played in the first two rounds. Osijek took the honours to have a 100% record after two games, but the game could have gone either way
Hajduk were without Jan Mkalar, the score of both of their goals at Lokomotiva, and both sides missed a number of good chances. Hajduk took the lead in remarkable fashion. Livaja stood on the by-line and with the Osijek keeper anticipating a cross, Livaja lashed the ball from the incredibly tight angle and scored off the far post ! Both of Osijek’s goals came after Hajduk keeper Kalinic ( on loan from Aston Villa ) could only parry attempts on goal, and the Osijek goal scorers were quicker to react to the loose ball for simple finishes.
Rijeka are the only other side to still have a 100% record, with on-loan Norwich Swiss international Josip Drmic netting both goals in a routine victory over Istra. The winning margin could have been much greater, as Pavicic saw his penalty saved in added on time, Obregon had an effort chalked off by VAR for the most marginal of offsides, and amongst a number of good chances missed, Drmic posted an early contender for miss of the season, shooting wide from 10 yards after the Istra keeper Lucic had passed straight to him.
Dinamo Zagreb bounced back from their shock home defeat to Slaven Belupo by out-classing newly promoted Dragovoljac. After two heavy defeats it is already looking grim for Dragovoljac and the only positive for them was that they managed to keep the score down !
Slaven Belupo crashed back to earth with a bang, unable to capitalise on their win over Dinamo slipping to a home defeat to Lokomotiva, who have given a strong indication they will be competing for a European place. Cokaj gave the visitors a first half lead with an excellent glancing header. Wasteful finishing prevented Lokomotiva being out of sight, and they literally paid the penalty when veteran Krstanovic equalised from the spot. With the game heading for a draw, Lokomotiva scrambled the winner, which stood after a VAR review for offside.
Gorica will be pleased to have scored three goals, with none of them scored by talisman Kristijan Lovric. That’s not say Lovric had a quiet game, having a shot deflected for the own goal, delivering the inch perfect pass for Babec to score the opener, crossed for Dieye to miss an open goal, and struck the bar after a trademark run and shot. For Sibenik, Bilic scored a late consolation, and they nearly added a second in added on time but were denied by the bar. After two convincing defeats on the road, they will be looking for a change of form at home.
European Competitions
Croatia’s four sides playing in Europe will be confident of progressing from their second legs this week.
In the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb won 2-0 in their home leg against Omonia Nicosia in front of 2,234 spectators thanks to second half goals from Majer and Jakic.
In the Europa Conference, Hajduk Split were 2-0 home winners over Tobol of Kazakhstan, in front of 11,141 fans, with both goals scored by teenager prodigy Marin Ljubicic. Rijeka eased to a 2-0 win over Gzira United in Malta, whilst Osijek obtained a respectable 0-0 draw in Poland with Pogon Szczecin.
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